SF Rod’s Report from the Coliseum

YFSF regular "sf rod" was in attendance at what will likely be certified as the most-attended baseball game in world history — the exhibition between the Red Sox and Dodgers at Los Angeles Coliseum. Below are some of his observations. Many thanks, Rod!

to say the very least, the sheer magnitude of this entire event was awe inspiring. from the logistical nightmare of finding parking for 115,300+ people to fitting a baseball diamond into an 86 year old football/track stadium, this was a huge undertaking. for the most part everything went off without a hitch.

this season is the 50th anniversary of the dodgers moving to los angeles. there was an all day celebration honoring dodger greats outside the stadium. the Coliseum itself has not changed much since it’s opening in 1923. small (only 6 ft. high) long tunnels leading to the seating sections. the olympic size running track that surrounded the field was removed in the 90’s to make room for more seating. the departure of the track shaved 50 ft. off the field that the dodgers played on in the 1950’s making the current day leftfield wall a mere 201 ft. away from home plate. a 60 ft. screen (coined "the screen monster" by Shaughnessy) was erected in left field to counteract the short porch as well as to spare the lives of the fans sitting that close. the proximity of the leftfield wall allowed the dodgers to play with 5 infielders, with andruw jones playing as a second shortstop. the sox played the field with traditional positioning with the exception of lugo running out to handle balls hit down the leftfield line. kevin youkilis took advantage of the awkward dimensions in the 3rd inning with a 230 ft. home run that was towering pop up on most little league fields. the rest of the outfield was spacious with an open standing room area located on the football field just behind the right and centerfield wall. ortiz had been launching balls to the crowd standing there during BP. the crowd started a wave in the second inning that lasted until the fifth. even the sox and dodgers players joined in on the wave. this was quite an experience and you could feel it in the air all nite long.

it was recommended to fans commuting game to park at dodger stadium (6 miles away from the Coliseum) and take free shuttles to the Coliseum. the line at 6:30 was 3 hours long to get on the shuttles.

very cool, man.
I can’t imagine that parking situation though. I was definitely not born with the ability to go through something like that.

BradApril 1, 2008, 11:08 am

I too, attended. The event of a lifetime. I didn’t feel like I was at a baseball game until the 5th inning, when most of the distractions tapered off. Too many “first pitch” celebrations, beach balls, and hundreds of people milling about on field (with passes) behind home plate, all night.
Parking at Dodger Stadium was an unmitigated disaster. McCourts should be roasted for lack of planning and organization on this. I knew it would be as it used to be after USC football, with shuttles to and from Staples Center. I do have to ask… what kind of brain dead person would wait in a 3 hour line, instead of promptly getting back in the car and heading to the Coliseum? People could have walked the six miles quicker.